U.S. patent number 4,389,211 [Application Number 06/269,361] was granted by the patent office on 1983-06-21 for catamenial bandage.
Invention is credited to Arlene R. Lenaghan.
United States Patent |
4,389,211 |
Lenaghan |
June 21, 1983 |
Catamenial bandage
Abstract
A catamenial bandage pad which is elongate in form and provided
with a shell envelope of resilient material corrugated lengthwise
to permit easy transverse compression but with a resilient memory
to return to a laterally extended position. The shell includes
absorbent filler material and a compressed element of absorbent
substance which expands in the presence of liquid to respond to the
quantity of liquid.
Inventors: |
Lenaghan; Arlene R. (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) |
Family
ID: |
23026920 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/269,361 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/15203 (20130101); A61F 13/4702 (20130101); A61F
13/53713 (20130101); A61F 13/51305 (20130101); A61F
13/534 (20130101); A61F 2013/4708 (20130101); A61F
2013/530437 (20130101); A61F 2013/530802 (20130101); A61F
2013/53445 (20130101); A61F 2013/53782 (20130101); A61F
2013/5694 (20130101); A61F 13/622 (20130101); A61F
2013/530481 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61F 13/56 (20060101); A61F
013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/284,287,288,29R,29W,296 ;604/378-379,383,385 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; C. Fred
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch, Choate,
Whittemore & Hulbert
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A catamenial bandage pad comprising:
(a) an elongate, relatively flat shell of resilient, form retaining
material having a top and bottom surface corrugated in a
longitudinal direction, the top surface having spaced openings in
the valleys of the corrugations, and
(b) an elongate, relatively thin, compressed sheet of hydrophillic
material encapsulated in a filler gauze and relatively coextensive
with and encased in said shell, said hydrophillic material being
expansible in the presence of fluid to have a sponge-like
attraction for fluid entering the shell.
2. A catamenial bandage as defined in claim 1 in which the shell is
surrounded by a liquid permeable but hydrophobic material.
3. A catamenial bandage as defined in claim 1 in which said shell
has an elongate base portion, with side wings integral therewith,
the edges of said shell having an adhesive material along the edges
such that when the wings are folded together over the base portion,
the edges thereof will adhere to form a closed encasement for said
encapsulated hydrophillic material.
4. A catamenial bandage pad as defined in claim 1 in which the
corrugated top of the shell is less resilient than the bottom of
the shell.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Reference is made to my copending application entitled "Catamenial
Bandage", Ser. No. 269,360, filed June 1, 1981.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The design and manufacture of sanitary pads for use by women in the
menstrual period.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent months, the use of the tampon type menstrual device has
been under investigation due to a toxic syndrome which has affected
certain women using this type of device. This has caused a return
to the more conventional sanitary pad but has resulted also in the
focus of attention to the inadequacies of the usual elongate pad.
These inadequacies include discomfort in use, deformation or roping
which reduces the effectiveness of the absorbency, inability to
adapt to variations in flow, and a resulting lack of confidence in
the pad itself.
The present invention is directed to an improved type of sanitary
pad which provides a more comfortable device which holds its shape
and provides the necessary protection without loss of absorbency
and which adapts readily to varying conditions.
Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent in the
following description and claims in which the invention is
described together with the manner of making and using the
invention directed to persons skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DRAWINGS accompany the disclosure and the various views thereof may
be briefly described as:
FIG. 1, a side view of a pad constructed in accordance with the
invention.
FIG. 2, a top plan view of the pad.
FIG. 3, a perspective view of the pad partially in transverse
section.
FIG. 4, a perspective view of the completed pad.
FIG. 5, a sectional view of the pad showing one condition of
use.
FIG. 6, a view showing the pad partially assembled.
FIG. 7, a view of a retaining panty garment.
FIG. 8, a sectional view on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9, a view of a modified distribution of Velcro retainers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS, it is an object of the invention to
provide a sanitary pad which keeps its shape during its entire use
but which will compress and expand transversely with body movement.
The space between the upper femur portions of the body will vary
with individuals and also with body position. The present pad is
designed to accommodate itself to this variation. In addition, the
pad contemplates the use of a hydrophillic material which is formed
of compressed absorbent particles to provide a relatively thin flat
pad which can expand to provide more space for absorption when in
contact with fluid. Thus, the pad can be used for light menstrual
flow and heavy flow, thus eliminating the use of different bulk
pads.
In FIG. 1, the pad 30 is shown as arcuate in longitudinal contour
with a gradual taper to relatively flat ends 32 and 34. The pad is
made as illustrated in FIG. 6 of an outside shell having two wing
portions 36 and 38 and a central portion 40. The shell is formed of
a soft, resilient form-retaining plastic, preferably foamed, but
thin and having a velvety feel such as is used in wrapping and
packaging materials. It has a memory so that it will return to its
original shape. The wings 36 and 38 are corrugated longitudinally
as shown in FIG. 3 while the base or outside sheet is corrugated
also but with finer corrugations. Thus, the lower flat section 40
is more flexible than the upper flat surface formed by wings 36,
38.
A pad 50 of compressed hydrophillic material is relatively thin and
lies between the lower section 40 and the wings 36, 38. A light,
filler gauze material is interposed also over and under pad 50
before the wings are folded into place with a slight overlap and
heat sealed at the ends and at the seams. An envelope 52 surrounds
the assembly.
The plastic sheath or shell has elongate apertures 54 in the
valleys of the corrugated top 36, 38, these openings being longest
and widest at the midportion of the pad and ensmalling toward the
ends.
As indicated, the lower section 40 of the pad is more flexible than
the top corrugated section. The compressed hydrophillic material 50
acts like a sponge, attracting the fluid from above and expanding
to absorb the fluid. As this occurs, the pad 50 expands downwardly,
as shown in FIG. 5, bulging the bottom wall to some degree. Thus,
during days of heaviest flow, the bulkiness of the pad can be used
but on the days of lighter flow, the pad will remain relatively
thin. Discomfort is thus minimized in direct relation to the flow
required to be absorbed.
The pad provides for the protection of the perineal portions of the
body against direct contact with the largest collection of the flow
in that the flow-directing valleys of the corrugations are provided
with the openings 54. This, together with the attracting
capabilities of the compressed absorbing material keep the flow in
a constant downward movement, taking the flow beneath the ridges
and away from direct contact with the perineal area. The less rigid
outer wall of the pad expands as this process takes place.
The corrugated formation of the pad allows it to be compressed
laterally by body movement without discomfort and it will return to
its original shape when side pressure is released.
The outer covering 52 previously referenced is preferably a
comfortable, hydrophobic material which is liquid permeable and
will pass fluid into the pad but not retain it. This can be a soft
foamed sheeting which can be heat sealed to encase the pad.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a retaining panty garment 60 may have
Velcro (Trademark) strips 62 secured to the pubic area and these
will cooperate with the foam outer sheath to retain the pad in
place. For more flexibility, Velcro discs 64, shown in FIG. 9, can
serve the same purpose as locators for the pad. Other standard
means for positioning the pad can also be used.
Thus, the described pad can be smaller and flatter than the
conventional sanitary pads. The corrugated material provides the
necessary resistance to roping while laterally compressible to
accommodate body movement. It is adaptable to the quantity of flow
and can be used for either light flow days or heavy flow and is
convenient to carry before use. The hydrophobic chamber provided by
the outer sheath eliminates contact with the body.
* * * * *